Sokol Eshelon
| Sokol Eshelon | |
|---|---|
| Type | Laser weapon |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union/Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Almaz-Antey/Beriev/Khimpromavtomatika[1][2] |
| Specifications | |
| Effective firing range | 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)+ [3] |
Sokol Eshelon (Russian: Сокол-Эшелон) is a Russian, formerly Soviet, laser weapon based anti-satellite system. It is an airborne laser based on a Beriev A-60 aircraft. In 2012 it was reported that the project is back under development and is intended for the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces once completed.
A-60
The Beriev A-60 aircraft is a laser research plane produced by Beriev based on their IL-76 transport. Development seems to have started in 1981 with the laser installed in 1983. A second plane was built in 1991. The plane contains a special nose cone with a laser targeting system.[3][4][5][2][6][7]
Sokol Eshelon
The Sokol Eshelon project started in 2003 and was first made public in the annual report of contractor Khimpromavtomatika in 2005. Other mentions include Almaz-Antey's annual report in 2006 and in a report by Radiofizika in 2009 where they mentioned their development of radar for the plane. Details also emerged due to a court case between Almaz-Antey and Beriev over payments to a subcontractor. The contract between the two parties was connected to a contract no. 5933 Almaz-Antey holds with military unit 21055. This contract is supervised by the Ministry of Defence's 27th Military Representative Office. The project seems to be known under the codename Dueliant.[4][2]
In 2009 the plane was involved in a test to illuminate Japanese satellite AJISAI which was at an orbital height of 1,500 km. The test involved seeing if a reflection of the laser off the satellite could be picked up, and wasn't intended to damage the satellite.[3][8]
The laser has been given the codename 1LK222. The purpose of the laser is to blind the sensors of enemy satellites rather than destroy them.[1][8][9]
See also
Related development:
Comparable systems:
References
- ^ a b Podvig, Pavel (13 November 2012). "Russia to resume work on airborne laser ASAT". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ a b c
Stukalin, Alexander (2012). "Sokol-Eshelon and Dueliant: New Space Defence Laser". Moscow Defense Brief. 2012 (27). Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help) - ^ a b c Palchikov, Nikolai (13 September 2012). «Гиперболоид» Страны Советов (in Russian). Krasnaya Zvedza. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ a b DIMMI (13 November 2012). А-60 / 1А1 / 1А2 (in Russian). Military Russia. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ Ignatiev, Aleksandr (1 April 2009). Лучом по ракете (in Russian). Voenno-Promishlenny Kurer. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ Vlatkin, Vladimir (22 September 2010). "Russia developing laser weapons - military chief". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ А-60 (in Russian). Airwar.ru. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ a b Podvig, Pavel (13 November 2012). "Russia to resume work on airborne laser ASAT". Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ Минобороны возобновит создание боевого лазера (in Russian). Izvestia. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help)